Chapter 718 : A Demon's Ambition and the Glazed Shield

As his words fell, the voice of Mystery Heir Fang faded into nothingness—it had been merely an avatar all along.

"What urgent matter could it be? He's likely just eager to devour Heaven's Profound Sect," came the cold retort.

Watching the departing figure, Blood-Refining Old Demon let out a derisive snort.

Yet, a moment later, his expression shifted. A cold glint entered his eyes as he muttered to himself, "Once I've performed the blood sacrifice on the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland to restore my power, I'll return to seize him and force him to reveal the whereabouts of the Seven-Colored Immortal Clam."

It turned out that Blood-Refining Old Demon had never stopped coveting the location of Nyssa Qu. His current alliance with Mystery Heir Fang served a dual purpose: first, to seek vengeance against Eldrin Chen, and second, to use the opportunity to investigate the trail of Nyssa Qu.

His gaze fixed intently upon the vast expanse of the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland below, Blood-Refining Old Demon summoned a Demonic Treasure [a powerful artifact forged with demonic energy] and unleashed a devastating slash towards the land.

"*Hummm—*"

Sensing the overwhelming power of the Blood-Refining Old Demon's full-force strike, a blindingly brilliant radiance erupted across the entire Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland. It coalesced into a protective barrier of Glazed [a crystalline, translucent material], resembling a colossal Glazed bowl inverted over the earth.

The Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland, as the foundational stronghold of the Chen Clan, was not only guarded by two Fifth Rank Spiritual Vein [sites of exceptionally dense and potent spiritual energy] but also fortified by a network of Three Thousand Cities. Each city served as a Formation Eye [a key node in a mystical defensive array], anchored by its own Third-order Spiritual Vein [a site of significant spiritual energy].

Having cultivated this land for centuries, the Chen Clan had woven these countless Formation Eye into the legendary Heavenly Starry Sky Grand Formation [a grand defensive array that mimics the constellations]. When fully activated, its defensive power was formidable enough to withstand assaults from a Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a cultivator on the very cusp of achieving the Primordial Spirit realm] expert. Join our community of readers at audio-novel . com.

Facing the full-force strike of the Blood-Refining Old Demon, the Heavenly Starry Sky Grand Formation remained completely unscathed.

"The Heavenly Starry Sky Grand Formation!"

The Blood-Refining Old Demon's expression shifted slightly. He had not expected the Chen Clan to possess such profound defensive foundations here.

A trace of unease settled in his heart. The power of this Formation [a complex array of energy channels and symbols used for defense, attack, or other effects] was such that, unless he unleashed the Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Divine Blade, he feared he could not breach it even after half a month of continuous assault.

With this realization, the Blood-Refining Old Demon could only grit his teeth and channel his energy into the Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Divine Blade, sending a cleaving strike towards the Cosmic Stellar Formation.

"BOOM—"

A deafening explosion echoed. The Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Divine Blade truly lived up to its reputation as a Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [a legendary artifact of immense power from the dawn of creation]. Though its full might was not yet restored, the force channeled by the Blood-Refining Old Demon alone caused the radiant glow of the Cosmic Stellar Formation to dim by a full thirty percent.

The one currently guarding this location was the Second Primordial Embryo [a profound cultivation stage where one's spiritual essence begins to take a distinct, embryonic form] of Exquisite Jiang. Seeing the Blood-Refining Old Demon draw the Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Divine Blade, she immediately spoke, "Go swiftly and inform the Old Patriarch to come and reinforce the defense."

"We are already here."

A Teleportation Formation [a magical array designed for instantaneous travel across distances] flashed brightly, and Eternal Profound Chen arrived at the scene via the formation without a moment's delay.

The Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland was merely tens of thousands of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] from Green Chariot Mountain. The moment it came under attack, the Old Patriarch sensed the anomaly. Furthermore, once the Heavenly Starry Sky Grand Formation was activated, all the major Spirit Mountain would issue warnings.

Upon arriving at the Earth Vein, Eternal Profound Chen immediately summoned the Eight Trigrams Treasure Flag [a powerful banner embodying the eight trigrams of the I Ching] and placed it into the Formation Eye [the core node of a magical formation]. With a grave expression, he declared,

"The attacker is the Blood-Refining Old Demon. We likely cannot hold him off. Go quickly and request aid from Vast Righteousness True Lord!"

"*Clang—*"

As he spoke, another crimson blade of light cleaved down from the heavens, striking the glow of the Cosmic Stellar Formation [a defensive formation drawing power from the stars] and causing it to dim drastically.

The Blood-Refining Old Demon, heedless of his spiritual energy [the vital energy that flows through all living things] expenditure, consecutively channeled his Pure Lunar Demonic Treasure [a demonic artifact of immense power] to unleash three more slashes. The Cosmic Stellar Formation shattered under the assault.

Yet, in its place, eight Treasure Flag erupted with divine radiance. The powers of Heaven Trigram, Earth Trigram, Thunder Trigram, Gale, Water Trigram, Solar Fire, Mountain Trigram, and Lake Trigram intertwined, coalescing into a formidable force that surged forth to attack.

"The Eight Trigrams Demon Refining Banner!"

The Blood-Refining Old Demon's face paled with alarm. He hastily urged his Blood-Transforming Demon Saber [a sinister blade that feeds on blood] to counterattack relentlessly.

This Eight Trigrams Demon Refining Banner was astonishingly potent. Empowered by the Spiritual Vein [a subterranean conduit of concentrated spiritual energy], its might was greatly amplified, posing a genuine threat even to a great power at the Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a cultivator on the verge of forming their Primordial Spirit, the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm.

The layered combination of Treasure Flag and Divine Ability unleashed a series of astonishing Great God Ability: the Heaven and Earth Dual Energy Aura, the Gale Thunder Trigram Wings, the Polarity Annihilating Demon-Slaying Energy, the Thunder Trigram Lake Sword, and the Thunder-Fire Demon-Slaying Divine Thunder. Each one was formidably powerful.

After exchanging over a dozen blows with Old Patriarch, Blood-Refining Old Demon found himself momentarily unable to gain the upper hand. This only served to fuel his growing fury and humiliation.

"Damnation! My injuries are not yet fully healed, and my Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Divine Blade [a demonic blade that grows stronger by consuming blood] has not tasted blood in a century. Otherwise, how could I allow you to act so arrogantly!"

In the great battle a century ago, he had been wounded by Nyssa Qu's Seven-Colored Immortal Light. Those injuries had yet to fully mend. Furthermore, his Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Divine Blade required the absorption of vast quantities of blood to restore its former might.

After lying low for a hundred years, Blood-Refining Old Demon had only just managed to recover a portion of his combat strength. He had been planning to sacrifice the Chen Clan to revive his blade, never expecting to encounter such a formidable foe.

With his current level of power, Blood-Refining Old Demon might be considered strong among those at the Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a cultivator whose spiritual core is almost fully formed] realm, but he was a far cry from the terror he once was as the foremost figure of the Demonic Path [a cultivation methodology that often employs cruel or unorthodox methods]. The story continues at *audio-novel.com*.

This realization, coupled with his frustration, planted the seed of retreat in Blood-Refining Old Demon's mind.

Just as he was about to withdraw, however, he noticed Eternal Profound Chen's head of white hair and his gaunt, withered appearance. He halted his retreat.

"So it's not some grand master after all, just an old man whose vital essence has withered," he sneered.

"With your depleted life force, even if you can activate this Eight Trigrams Demon Refining Banner [a banner treasure used to trap and refine demons], how long can you possibly sustain it?"

The Blood-Refining Old Demon let out a cold sneer. Disregarding the toll on his spiritual power, he once more summoned the Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Divine Blade and slashed it towards the Eight Trigrams Demon Refining Banner.

Eternal Profound Chen channeled the Formation to withstand the blow, stubbornly enduring nine consecutive strikes from the Blood-Refining Old Demon. Finally, he coughed violently, spraying a mouthful of blood.

The Second Primordial Embryo of Exquisite Jiang both paled slightly. Unable to hold back, one of them spoke, "Old Granduncle, please recover from your injuries first. Let me take over the channeling."

"Do not concern yourself with me!"

"This is my Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to its user's life force]. You cannot unleash its full power, and you will not be able to block him."

Eternal Profound Chen's expression remained unchanged, but the spiritual power within his body was now nearly exhausted.

After all, his opponent was a Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a cultivator on the verge of attaining the Primordial Spirit realm], and the Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Divine Blade in his hand was a Pure Lunar Demonic Treasure [a top-tier demonic artifact of immense power] that had shaken the world.

Although the Eight Trigrams Demon Refining Banner was Extraordinary, its grade was ultimately slightly lower. Even with the Spiritual Vein [a concentrated ley line of spiritual energy] bearing the brunt of the consumption and backlash, the remaining recoil had left Eternal Profound Chen severely wounded, his spiritual power almost completely drained.

Yet, at this critical moment, Eternal Profound Chen remained unwaveringly resolute. Gritting his teeth, he squeezed out the last vestiges of his heart's essence blood, transforming it into a surge of turbulent spiritual power. With a roar, he shouted.

"Blood-Refining Old Demon, the Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Divine Blade may be mighty, but with your Half-Step Primordial Spirit cultivation, how many more slashes can you possibly muster?"

"Today, you seek to slaughter the billions of bloodlines of my Chen Clan. Even if I must exhaust every last drop of my vital essence, this old man will fight you to the death."

As the Old Patriarch's words fell, the boundless magical power within his body surged into the Eight Trigrams Demon Refining Banner [a powerful enchanted banner used to refine and subdue demons], unleashing a strike that poured forth his entire being.

Behold! The three Formation Flag [enchanted flags used to anchor and power formations] of Thunder Trigram [the Thunder Hexagram], Solar Fire [the essence of the sun's flame], and Gale [the Swift Wind] erupted with world-shaking divine radiance. Converging their power, they unleashed an earth-shattering Great God Ability [a supreme divine technique]: 'Thunder-Fire Gale Demon-Slaying Sword' [a sword technique born from the fusion of thunder, fire, and gale-force winds].

This single strike possessed the fierce, domineering might of Thunderclap [a thunderous explosion], the surging, overwhelming force of Solar Fire [the sun's flame], and the blistering Extreme Speed [peerless velocity] of the Gale [the Swift Wind]. Furthermore, the wind fanned the flames, and the flames empowered the thunder's majesty.

These three forces fused and intertwined, giving birth to a truly astonishing, peerless Divine Ability [a supernatural technique cultivated through profound arts].

"BOOM—" Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio novel.com.